DENVER — Considering how his NFL career has transpired, it seems fitting that Dion Lewis is humble. The circuitous journey might also explain why the oft-injured Patriots running back wasn’t overly amped yesterday after a career-best performance.

“I would take being out there for five plays at this point,” said Lewis, whose career took a two-year hiatus in 2013-14. “Just playing is a blessing for me.”

The 5-foot-8, 195-pounder established new personal bests in carries (18) and yards (95) in the Pats’ 16-3 win against the Denver Broncos. His presence provided a sorely needed boost to a running game nearly nonexistent in last season’s AFC Championship Game.

Lewis tore his ACL last November against Washington, and watched the Patriots manage a mere 44 yards on the ground in a 20-18 loss here to the Broncos. This marked his fifth game since returning to action last month, but Lewis hadn’t carried more than six times in any of the previous four.

“Every week I prepare as if I’ll be the guy no matter what the situation is, so I’m always going to be ready,” Lewis said. “Today just happened to be my day.”

While Lewis was soft spoken and humble in his postgame interview despite averaging a hefty 5.3 yards per carry, backfield mate LaGarrette Blount briefly interjected by good-naturedly bellowing: “Five yards away from a ‘hundo.’ Couldn’t get five more yards.”

A time existed when it didn’t appear Lewis would gain five more yards in any capacity. A fifth-round pick by Philadelphia in 2011, he was used sparingly in two seasons with the Eagles — 36 carries for 171 yards in 24 games. He missed all of 2013 because of a broken leg, then was cut by Cleveland and Indianapolis in 2014 and didn’t play a down that year, either.

Although players rarely return after two years away from NFL action, Lewis always maintained hope. He never doubted a performance like this one would eventually occur.

“Of course not,” he said. “I’m a very confident person and I expect a lot of myself. As long as you’re confident, anything is possible.”

Although Lewis is thought of as a change-of-pace and third-down back, he relished his role as a workhorse. On a day when the offense never fully clicked, Lewis’ consistency and ability to move the chains in a field-possession game wasn’t lost on his teammates.

“It was great to see him make those moves that everyone is used to seeing him make,” quarterback Tom Brady said. “That’s just the way it goes. You come back from some tough injuries and it just takes some time to get re-acclimated.”